Flexible surf leash guide sleeve housing

ABSTRACT

A flexible housing member  20  for enclosing the connection of a surf leash  05  to an anchor plug  10.  The turret shaped housing member  20,  having a base  29  with a centered base opening  22,  is rotatably mounted to a bodyboard  02.  By employing an anchor plug  10  through the base opening  22,  an axis point for the housing member  20  is provided for projecting the surf leash in a desired direction. As the anchor plug  10  is tightened, the guide sleeve housing  20  is held with rotational friction to the desired direction. Thin optional washers,  50  and  65,  between the anchor plug  10  and the guide sleeve base  29,  may be used to adjust the rotational friction holding the guide sleeve passage  32  position. The surf leash guide sleeve housing  20,  comprised of a flexible material such as rubber, provides a character of resilience allowing a leash  05  to be pulled in any direction, and urged to return to the desired position as a pulling force is released.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a surf leash for a bodyboard, more particularly, a flexible, turret shaped surf leash guide sleeve housing which can be rotatably adjusted to resiliently project a surf leash from an anchor plug in a desired direction.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] In the sport of surfing, leashes are used to prevent a long swim to retrieve a board or floatation device. Common bodyboard leash designs utilize a nylon string, or cord to tie the surf leash to an anchor plug. The desired free movement and versatility of the string subsequently results in occasional entanglements and complications. The surf leash is allowed to end up in an awkward position on the board or wrapped around a persons arm or leg. The results of an awkwardly positioned leash can be lost time, complications, frustration, and energy.

[0005] For a bodyboarder to place or position a surf leash in a safe, comfortable, or just an acceptable position during a critical moment requires a certain degree of skill, experience and concentration, as well as energy to correct an inconvenience or complication of a given situation. These distractions or complications result in the majority of bodyboarders choosing not to use a surf leash unless surf conditions demand it or if desired for practicing new tricks and maneuvers.

[0006] Attempts to ease the burden of using a surf leash have been made including a coiled leash, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,785 of Ian Tugwood filed Oct. 30, 1984, and a flat top anchor plug, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,483 of Robert Nealy, filed Dec. 10, 1991. Although both are excellent improvements, being tied together with a string leaves a rogue connection between the two. A coiled leash nearly eliminates entanglements, however, being coiled it presents a larger obstacle when it gets in the way. A more recent coiled leash design is U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,220 of Mike Stewart filed Jun. 28, 1994 wherein the coil loops are stacked perpendicular to the surface of the board This again is an excellent modification, however, it still leaves room for many innovations for surf leash systems. The nylon string or cord used to attach the end of a leash to an anchor plug is relatively inexpensive, as well as the most logical method to use, however, it lacks character and promotes occasional complications. It is an area due for innovations.

OBJECTS, ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the performance of leash systems by providing a flexible, turret shaped surf leash guide sleeve housing member which is rotatably mounted with a bodyboard anchor plug

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a resiliently flexible directing character for passively projecting a surf leash from an anchor plug in a desired direction from an otherwise rogue connection.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to conveniently direct a surf leash from a board in a rotatably adjustable direction, so a person is free to paddle or ride a wave with fewer complications and entanglements.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible and resilient, ergonomically designed turret styled structure to either enclose or partially enclose the connection of a surf leash to an anchor plug, to help prevent impact injuries from the hard plastic components of both.

[0011] An additional object of the present invention is the advantage of confidence in knowing how the leash is positioned, especially during time compressed situations in rough ocean surf conditions.

[0012] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a flexible turret styled structure having a through-hole passage to guide and house a surf leash from a rotatable base. The turret shaped surf leash guide sleeve housing loosely conforms to the components of a surf leash connected to an anchor plug and its flexibility allows normal hemispherical movement of the surf leash while resiliently returning to a desired position Incorporating the invented guide sleeve into the method of attaching a surf leash to a bodyboard introduces a member to the surf leash system that guides the surf leash from the anchor plug with resilience in a desired direction.

[0013] An optional spacer washer, or washers, may be installed to prevent the guide sleeve from being held in one direction when the anchor plug is tightened. If so desired, and installed, the optional spacer washers will reduce rotational friction allowing rotational movement of the installed guide sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the end of a surf leash and an anchor plug are ergonomically enclosed in a housing designed to reduce entanglements and inconvenience with the surf leash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent, and may best be understood, by reference to the ensuing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which,

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention installed with fragments of a leash and bodyboard illustrated.

[0016]FIGS. 2a to 2 c show top, bottom, and side views of a basic embodiment of the guide sleeve housing member.

[0017]FIGS. 3a to 3 c show a side sectional view of the guide sleeve taken along line 6 of FIG. 2 illustrating the leash and anchor plug installation procedures progressively in order.

[0018]FIGS. 4a to 4 d show the optional washers, the guide sleeve liner tube, and other embodiments of surf leash guide sleeves in accordance with the teachings of this invention

[0019]FIGS. 5a to 5 c show a side sectional view taken along line 6 of FIG. 2 at the final stage of connecting a surf leash, anchor plug, and guide sleeve, to a bodyboard with the optional spacer washers, an anchor plug assembly and a top view of the optional spacer washer.

[0020] Reference Numerals in Drawings 02. Bodyboard or the like 05. Surf leash 07. Surf leash swivel 08. Nylon cord or high strength string 10. Anchor plug 13. Anchor plug upper head member 14. Inner flat surface of anchor plug head member 15. Anchor plug cylinder coupling 20. Guide sleeve housing 22. Guide sleeve housing base opening 25. Guide sleeve housing base cavity 29. Guide sleeve housing base 32. Through hole surf leash guide sleeve passage 35. Guide sleeve opening 38. Guide sleeve liner tube 39. Guide sleeve elbow joint zone 40. Guide sleeve structural support ridges 50. Base seat spacer washer 52. Base seat washer inner surface 55. Base seat spacer member 57. Base seat washer notch 59. Base seat spacer opening 60. Flat base seat surface 65. Washers

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following descriptions set forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor to make and use the invented surf leash guide sleeve housing. A flexible housing member to enclose the connection of a surf leash to an anchor plug. Various modifications, however, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art and are anticipated by the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a surf leash 05 coupled to an anchor plug 10, not shown, and attached to a bodyboard with the present invention, a surf leash guide sleeve housing 20, which is incorporated into the surf leash system for a bodyboard 02. FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a surf leash system installed with the invented guide sleeve housing 20 providing a guided surf leash 05 across a bodyboard 02. The guide sleeve housing 20 may be used with any cord leash system 05, any bodyboard 02, floatation device, or the like, and for this reason neither are shown entirely, or in detail. The guide sleeve housing 20 is rotatably mounted with an anchor plug 10 which is employed as a rotational axis point for the guide sleeve housing 20. The diameter of the guide sleeve housing base 29 is of such a dimension that an anchor plug head member 13 may be accommodated inside the guide sleeve base cavity 25.

[0023] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 there is shown an anchor plug 10 as such disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,483 of Robert Nealy, Aug. 11, 1992. By modifying the base opening 22 of the guide sleeve 20, any anchor plug with a head member 13 having an essentially flat inner surface 14, may be employed, virtually any bodyboard anchor plug. The surf leash guide sleeve housing 20 serves to create a resilient character to direct a surf leash 05 out and away from an anchor plug 10 at any 360 degree position. By tightening the anchor plug 10 to the bodyboard 02, the guide sleeve base 29 is held with rotational friction by the inner flat surface 14 of the anchor plug to hold the rotational position desired As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 the turret shaped guide sleeve housing 20 provides a hemispherical shaped base cavity 25 above the head member 13 of the anchor plug 10 and an extending through hole surf leash guide sleeve passage 32 sized to accommodate an end portion of a surf leash.

[0024] To illustrate installation procedures of the guide sleeve housing 20, FIG. 3b shows an end of the surf leash 05 inserted through a guide sleeve opening 35. The surf leash's nylon cord 08 is pulled through the base opening 22, which may then be attached normally to an anchor plug 10. With the cord 08 attached to the anchor plug 10, the anchor plugs head member 13, is pushed through the base opening 22 by stretching the base opening 22 over the head member 13 as illustrated in FIG. 3c. Inside diameters of the through-hole surf leash guide sleeve passage 32 are sized slightly larger than the end portion of a surf leash 05 to allow proper swivel function. It is preferred that the extending through hole surf leash guide sleeve passage 32 be tapered towards the end to respectively conform to the surf leash 05. The loosely conforming surf leash guide sleeve passage 32 allows the surf leash 05, to rotate freely on a swivel 07, if the surf leash 05 uses one. A thin smooth, optional guide sleeve liner tube 38,shown in FIG. 4c, may be used to provide a slick inside surface for the through hole passage 32 of the guide sleeve 20 to aide in the surf leash swivels 07 rotation to keep the surf leash 05 free from entanglements.

[0025]FIG. 3c shows the guide sleeve housing 20 with the surf leash 05 and anchor plug 10 installed before being applied to a bodyboard 02 or sport vehicle where a leash is used As is shown, a surf leash 05 is guided by the guide sleeve housing 20 out and away from the anchor plug 10. The guide sleeve housing 20, being flexible, allows the surf leash to be pulled in any hemispherical direction and urge the surf leash 05 to return to the at rest position across the board 02. For structural support the guide sleeve housing 20 may be constructed with externally raised support ridges 40 as shown in FIG. 4a. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4a dual compounds are used The support ridges 40 are comprised of a more resilient material than the elbow joint 39 and guide sleeve portion. In applications where joint zones 39 are used, support ridges 40 may be used for reinforcement along the seam of the two material compounds.

[0026] If a rotatable guide sleeve housing 20 is desired, optional washers 50 and 65, may be added between the anchor plug and guide sleeve base, as illustrated in FIG. 5a. An optional base seat spacer washer 50 essentially defines a flat, base seat surface 60 and an essentially flat inner base surface 52 which carries a centered cylindrical spacer member 55 with a spacer opening 59, that communicates with the anchor plug cylinder coupling member 15. A notch 57 running from the base seat surface 60 to the spacer opening 59, allows for routing the cord 08 through the base seat spacer washer 50, down, and around the anchor plug, or as normal installation requires.

[0027] As it is essential to the spirit of the invention, it is preferred that the guide sleeve housing 20 be comprised of a soft, flexible material such as rubber or silicone. A preferred material may be Kraton. RTM, as manufactured by Shell Chemical company. However, neoprene or other material which can be bent and stretched to allow the surf leash 05 to perform, may be sewn to fit the application. In the preferred embodiment, a pliable, tactile rubber compound forms elbow joint zones 39 allowing the guide sleeve a greater hemispherical range of motion with less resistance in a more exotic embodiment of the guide sleeve 20. In a dual compound embodiment, the elbow joint zones 39 may be comprised of Kraton. RTM.

RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0028] Accordingly, the reader will see that the surf leash guide sleeve housing will provide a safe and improved method of attaching a surf leash to a bodyboard. External shapes of the invented surf leash guide sleeve may vary as the turret style design of the housing and its rotational ability define the scope of this invention As there are many sizes and dimensions of anchor plugs and leashes, different sizes and dimensions of the invented guide sleeve are to be offered as well. Upon a pulling force on the leash, the guide sleeve will flex to any hemispherical direction, when the pulling force is released the resilience of the guide sleeve will urge the return of the surf leash to the desired direction, as positioned by the user.

[0029] Wall thickness and material compounds of the guide sleeve may be modified to allow various resilience characteristics and flexible ranges of motion, such as light, medium, and heavy. Other ramifications include various guide sleeve lengths, vertical angles of leash projection, embodiments of dual compound construction, and externally raised structural support ridges.

[0030] Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention have been described and are shown in detail, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes in the subject invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the guide sleeve may be compounded and included directly into a leash or anchor plug design. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. A flexible housing member for enclosing the connection of a surf leash to an anchor plug.
 2. The housing member of claim 1 wherein a base aperture of said housing member provides a rotatable axis point around said anchor plug for said housing member.
 3. The housing member of claim 1 wherein said surf leash is guided through said housing member in an adjustable direction having an axial radious around said anchor plug.
 4. The housing member of claim 1 including a second more pliable compound of material forming an elbow joint zone for said housing member between said surf leash and said anchor plug.
 5. The housing member of claim 1 wherein said housing member is comprised of a resiliently flexible material to allow a pulling force to change the direction of said surf leash from said anchor plug, and resiliently urge the return of said surf leash to the original direction as said pulling force is released.
 6. A flexible turret-shaped enclosure for housing an end portion of a surf leash comprising: A base including an aperture to couple and employ an anchor plug as an axis point for said enclosure: An extending through-hole surf leash guide sleeve passage to accommodate and direct an end portion of said surf leash away from said axis point of said anchor plug.
 7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein said enclosure is comprised of a resiliently flexible material allowing a pulling force to change the direction of said surf leash from said anchor plug and return said surf leash to the original direction from said anchor plug as said pulling force is released.
 8. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein said enclosure is comprised using dual compounds of a resilient rubber material having a second more pliable rubber compound as a flexible elbow joint zone between said base and said guide sleeve passage.
 9. A flexible turret shaped guide sleeve enclosure to receive and enclose an end portion of a surf leash, said enclosure including a base having an aperture for coupling an anchor plug, said base aperture employing said anchor plug as an axis point for said guide sleeve enclosure.
 10. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein said enclosure is comprised of a resiliently flexible material allowing a pulling force to change the direction of said surf leash from said anchor plug and said base and return said surf leash to the original direction across the board as said pulling force is released
 11. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein said enclosure is comprised of dual compounds of a resilient rubber material having a second more pliable rubber material as a flexible joint zone between said base and said guide sleeve passage. 